2021 • Weddings by Leigh

California beach engagement with champagne bottle

Top Tips For a Stress Free Wedding Planning Experience

March 3, 2021 Paige Thom Leave a comment Blog

It is officially Wedding Planning Season! With November – February being engagement season it is officially time for couples to begin the planning process. We have compiled our top tips for stress free wedding planning experience for any couple beginning their journey. You want to enjoy the planning experience and having the right foundation to get started will make all the difference.

Tip 1 – Set a budget!

Even if you end up changing your budget or plans its okay, start by talking money. Weddings do not need to be a financial drain or burden to be magical, but I want you to be prepared for the cost of things. Just like buying a car, I don’t want you to experience sticker shock, if you were expecting a Mercedes on a Honda budget.

Start with completing the Easy Budget Tool (Click Here to request your free download). You can either enter your number of guests or your estimated funds to see where those will most likely get allocated.

Tip 2 – See tip#1 … SET A BUDGET

Wedding budget for beginners infographic

We’re going to say it again! Setting a budget truly helps in decision making, design, venue selection, and everything else. Also, know that the single largest expense is food and drinks which is tied directly to your guest count. Need to cut cost? The easiest way is to reduce your guest count.

Tip 3 – Pick a date

Now that you have your finances in order (or so we hope) its time to pick a date! There are several different ways to approach date selection and here are a few.

Dream date – it is all the rage to select a date with numeric significance 10/10/2020, 12/21/21. 2/22/22. If you have your budget set and begin your venue search looking for your dream date you will be more prepared for the potential challenges of scheduling on a trendy date.
Length of engagement – are you in a rush? This may limit your selection at traditional venues as they often book 12 – 18 months in advance and sometimes even longer if it is a popular or historical site. If you have time to plan (and save $$$) then you will have access to a greater selection.
On a tight budget? – Monday – Thursdays are always less than Friday – Sunday. Pick mid-week and consider a breakfast, brunch or lunch ceremony/reception.
Season – Avoid peak wedding season to help save some money. April, May, September, and October, are the busiest wedding months and vendors do charge accordingly. Avoid peak season to save money on your venue and vendors.

Tip 4 – Get organized!

Break out the trusty 3 ring binder and organize the event into major sections in chronological order. You don’t need to rush and confirm an officiant before you have a venue and you won’t need a florist until you have a design. You will save hours of frustration and stress simply knocking things off the checklist in order. Think of the event in this order…

When are you having it? (Pick your date)
Who do you want to be there? (Confirm your guest count – this will dictate your venue options)
Where will it be? (Confirm your venue)
What will it look like? (design the wedding BEFORE you pick entertainment, invites, etc – wedding design drives the entire event experience)
What will we do? (traditions, ceremony, dances, toasts – this all drives how the event is laid out and what vendors need to be confirmed)
How are we notifying people? (invites, website, etc)
Who is coming? (RSVP and contract final payments)

Tip 5 – Get help!

Mother of the bride and bridesmaids helping but the wedding dress on

If you are planning the DIY route, I suggest getting a trusted family member or friend to assist you with the day of details. If you are organized and have a clear vision of your wedding day you are a perfect candidate for the DIY strategy but when it comes to your big day you will want to turn the reigns over so you can enjoy the magic. One person will need to coordinate with your vendors on your behalf plus manage the timeline of events, I recommend a professional or a friend or family member that is willing to lean in to help make the day come to life.

For couples that desire being more hands off or need guidance, I recommend connecting with a wedding planner and/or designer as soon as you know your date or shortly after confirming your venue (some venues have full service planners included in your venue rental). Brining your planner in early on will ensure your wedding design and event are a cohesive seamless experience. Wedding planning is a long journey but can be enjoyable if you follow our tips for a stress free wedding planning experience.

Happy Planning! ~Christy Leigh Thom

Rustic fall wedding invitation with burnt orange sunflowers

6 Truly Unique Wedding Invitation Ideas

February 18, 2021 Paige Thom Leave a comment Blog

“You only get one chance at a first impression, so start with the invitation!”
~Christy Leigh

I don’t know about you, but when I start planning a wedding the first thought that comes to mind is, “how is this going to be different than any other wedding?” Being the lead designer on our team I am also particularly sensitive to ensuring the couple’s individuality is also represented in their special day. I believe each couple should stand out from the crowd. I mean… It’s you, it’s your day it shouldn’t look like any other. Let’s look at 6 truly unique wedding invitation ideas below!

Personality meets style starting with the design phase. Our process begins by getting to know what our couple client likes their interests, hobbies, even home décor. (Because, what better way to understand your personality than getting a glimpse into your home.) Taking all the information we have plus looking at Pinterest boards or inspiration pictures, likes and dislikes, chosen venue and desired experience we start at the end and work our way to the beginning. Meaning, we create the entire vision of the day from what champagne will be served, to lighting, time of day, entertainment, weather, florals, colors, etc. Then we move into the details like signs, invitations, name cards and save the dates.

Which brings me to designing invitations that are as unique as you and give your guests a WOW first impression of your wedding day. Below are my favorite invitation ideas for making a fantastic and memorable first impression that is all your own.

1.) Get Artsy

Fall wedding invitation with sunflowers and burnt orange — Custom artwork for our bride who wanted a rustic inspired, fall wedding. The artwork will be used on all wedding stationery including name cards and welcome sign.

What better way to have a one-of-a-kind invite than one created by a fine artist? This is absolutely one of my favorite invite ideas because you can be as opulent or simplistic as you like and the art may be used for your welcome sign, menus, place cards, thank you and more.

2.) Mini Book

There is nothing more unique to you than your story so share it with your guests in a mini book invite. Include pictures of you along with event details all in a keepsake style invite. To be honest we had a hard time finding an example of this specific idea (which should tell you how unique it is!). So we did this little mockup to give you a better idea of what it would look like. Keep it simple and small, include personal photos, and the wedding details. A 2×3 book is only $4.96 from Walmart and you can include your entire love story!

3.) A Sprig

Elegant wedding invitation with sprig of lavender

I am an absolute gluten for fresh herbs and flowers and for my BoHo couples this is my top pick for giving your guests a sneak peak at either what’s on the menu (slip in a sprig of cilantro or rosemary secured to your invite with jute). Or, the vibe of your nature inspired celebration (lavender, grass, baby’s breath sprigs tied with a simple ribbon). Try to keep the sprigs small and tight so they don’t make a mess of your guests counter when they open the invite.

4.) A Sprig + Eco Friendly

Eco-Friendly wedding invitation with plant seeds — Etsy is a great resource to use. These are only $0.93 each!

Take it a step further and send your invite on plantable paper!

5.) Venue Inspired

Wine bottle label wedding invitation — Labels can be found on Etsy and we suggest Trader Joes, or Costco for inexpensive wine choices unless it is in your budget to send a bottle from your winery.

I know, how vague! But here is what I mean, if you are getting married at a winery send a cork, a wine bottle, a bottle opener. If you are getting married on the beach, send a treasure map, a beach survival kit with sunscreen, glasses, sun visor each with another piece of info or message in a bottle.

6.) Puzzle Pieces

I fell in love with blank puzzles from Amazon because you make it into anything you want and when you share it the activity is fun to unravel the mystery. We used these last Christmas to give a ski trip spread out among lots of little gifts.

In todays world of Pinterest Weddings, and Instagram styled shoots it can be difficult to find truly unique wedding details for your day. It feels like everyone is doing the different versions of the same basic ideas. Hopefully these 6 truly unique wedding invitation ideas helped you get started on the right path. Need some invite inspiration or wedding design help? Send us a note!

How To Take A Unique Approach To A Popular Trend

January 8, 2021 Paige Thom Leave a comment Blog

5 easy wedding decor tips for a rustic wedding theme

Have you ever wondered how trends get started and why some take hold like wildfire and others fade off into obscurity? The easy answer is this, the fashion industry drives trends that influence almost every market you can imagine including weddings. And long story short, fashion insiders like designers and celebrities basically tell the rest of the world, “hey this hot”.

The people we see on TV, in movies, social circles, and on the web are leading drivers of trends and statisticians and marketers help guide where the investment dollars will go. The vested trends get the window (or virtual window) and shelf space which means it becomes what have most access to. The long and short of it (or rather epically simplified version) celebrity combined with industry = trend. Let’s be honest, who didn’t fall in love with Texas couple Chip and Joanna that brought us the romantic world of rustic farmhouse décor?

Boiled down this means for a DIY couple; trends = limits. It’s not easy to create your own look when most affordable choices all look the same. Paige and I decided we would take on the challenge of a white, rustic wedding without using any of the design staples that are presently flooding Pinterest, Instagram and retailers.

1.) Your Vase

Natural wedding decor centerpiece with white roses and eucalyptus

I am a glutton for clean lines and sophisticated design, so my first change is replacing bulky mason jars with Dollar Tree vases. This swap is about a $0.20 increase in cost per vase. Then add river rocks, fairy lights and florals for a romantic and simple centerpiece.

2.) Ditch the Wood

Inexpensive Nature inspired wedding centerpiece

My second swap is replacing the wood stump with a sprawling nature scape of greenery and polished river rock complimented by votive candles. Good news, this swap will save you big dollars! 9” rustic wood centerpieces are about $8.00 each compared to the nature scape, which is $1.00 for the bag of rock, $1.00 for greenery, and $1.00 for votive candles ($3.00 total).

3.) Place Settings

White and silvers wedding table setting with eucalyptus

Next up, I like add classics to the table by including a charger or china. For this setting we did both, to keep it chic and affordable stick with just the charger plate. These can be found online or at the Dollar Store for $1.00 an under.

4.) Have Some Fun

White and blue summer wedding table setting and napkin — While we didn’t add a colorful napkin this time, we did want to share a great example of how it can be easily done! Click Here to save it.

Swap bland for bold when it comes to your napkins! Whether you have a wood finished table or tablecloth your napkins are the easiest way to add a pop of color without breaking the bank or risking a dangerous mistake. Every color in the rainbow looks beautiful with white and natural colors. Add orange, emerald green, hot pink, cranberry red, sapphire blue. Get creative with a pocket fold placing your flatware in the fold and centering it on the plate for buffet service or charger for sit down.

5.) Florals

White roses and eucalyptus wedding decor

For our mock event I chose eucalyptus as my primary green and ivory roses. By doing so the eucalyptus is complimented by the silver accents (flatware and charger) creating a romantic, summer feel. Taking this same look, you can swap the eucalyptus for cedar or juniper to create a rich winter vide that would look beautiful with gold.

It can be so easy to get wrapped up in current trends especially when Pinterest, target, and instagram are all pushing the same designs and styles. But there are simple ways to stay in trend while also making some unique changes. If you ever get stuck or feel overwhelmed in the design process reach out to a trusted design team. We offer wedding designs as low as $250! Or, stay tuned for our next DIY mock event where we will be bringing on the color!